Africa is grappling with a severe mpox outbreak, with over 25,000 cases and 643 deaths reported in 2024. The outbreak, originating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has spread to over a dozen countries, leaving a desperate need for vaccines to curb its spread. However, the high cost of these vaccines presents a significant hurdle for African nations already struggling with multiple health crises, including cholera, measles, malaria, and HIV.
The situation is particularly alarming because manufacturers are charging up to US$140 per dose, making the vaccines unaffordable for most African countries. This has forced them to rely heavily on donations from Western nations, which have large stockpiles. Leading manufacturer Bavarian Nordic has been identified as a key supplier, with plans to provide as many as 12 million doses by 2025. But the price remains a major concern.
“The Africa Centres for Disease Control has pegged the price for Bavarian’s vaccine at $100 per dose, while the World Health Organization quoted it at $141. That’s more than what most countries on the continent can afford,” reported Bloomberg. Helen Rees, chair of the WHO’s African advisory group on immunisation, highlighted the prohibitive cost, saying, “Pricing is a problem. The cost is going to make things prohibitive.”
A pricing model used by global vaccine alliance Gavi has previously helped reduce vaccine costs by securing large volumes, making them viable for manufacturers and ensuring products reach those in need. However, Bavarian’s mpox jab doesn’t fit that structure at this stage. “In this kind of circumstance, you’ve got limited supply and a manufacturing side of things that is expensive – this is not a cheap product to make,” explained Rees. “There’s a real cost associated.”
The staggering cost of vaccinating large populations is evident. WHO emergencies chief Mike Ryan emphasized, “If you want to vaccinate five million people in Congo, that’s going to cost you a billion dollars.” The DRC’s health minister, Samuel-Roger Kamba, has underscored the urgent need for 3.5 million doses, while the entire African continent requires 10 million to halt the outbreak.
Wealthier countries like the United States, which has stockpiled approximately 7 million doses, and Spain, with 2.5 million doses, are well-positioned to launch vaccination campaigns in case of outbreaks. However, Africa’s limited access to vaccines has hampered efforts to contain the spread of mpox. Since the start of 2024, the continent has reported 5,549 confirmed mpox cases, with 643 deaths. The DRC remains the epicenter, accounting for 91% of the total cases.
In contrast to Africa’s struggles, these richer nations can swiftly launch vaccination campaigns to protect their citizens, as seen during the 2022 US mpox outbreak, where over one million shots were distributed by year’s end. As the DRC received its initial batch of mpox vaccines, talks facilitated by agencies like Unicef are ongoing to secure additional vaccines for crisis-stricken African countries, with initial agreements expected to be finalized by mid-September.
The Congo remains the outbreak’s epicenter, and the lack of vaccines in Africa has hampered efforts to contain the disease. Since the start of 2024, there have been 5,549 confirmed mpox cases across the continent, with 643 associated deaths, a stark increase in both infections and fatalities compared to previous years. The cases in Congo constitute 91% of the total number. Most mpox infections in Congo and Burundi, the second most affected country, are in children under age 15.
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus has called on countries with stockpiles of vaccines to “work with us and our partners to get those vaccines to where they are needed now.” The high cost of vaccines poses a significant challenge to the efforts to control the mpox outbreak in Africa, underscoring the urgent need for accessible and affordable vaccines to protect vulnerable populations.
